Red-throated diver

Because red-throated divers lie deep in the water, only their dark grey back of their body is visible. With their short webbed feet located close to their tail end, they are terrific swimmers and divers, catching and consuming their prey underwater. Only larger prey are carried to the surface. This bird was used for predicting the weather on the Shetlands: flying inland or short cries meant good weather; flying to sea or long cries predicted wet weather.

Red-throated divers breed in the vicinity of ponds and inland lakes in Iceland, Greenland, Scotland and Scandinavia. After nesting season, they migrate in September to the North Sea to overwinter. Large numbers of red-throated divers are then found along the coast of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. Smaller numbers can be found along the British coast. In April, the birds return to their nesting grounds.